The Berber is a breed of horse with a lot of temperament. At the same time, he is exceptionally courageous, has strong nerves, tolerates people, and is people-oriented. Berber horses are real dependable horses that are loyal to their people. His ownership is almost unique. Horses can only develop such close contact with humans if they have had very close contact with humans over many generations. Berbers were therefore always kept in close family circles.
To this day, the Berber is known for its gentleness, personality, and philanthropy. Aggressive horses are consistently excluded from breeding.
Unlike other breeds, the Berber is not necessarily a flight animal. He doesn’t react headlessly to unfamiliar situations, but keeps calm. When faced with danger, Berbers appear more level-headed. This behavior is not trained and can already be observed in foals. Insecure riders in particular can benefit from this unusual behavior.
Berbers are known for their courage, tolerance and strong nerves. They possess the ability to control their instincts. This makes the Berber the ideal horse to rely on, which also keeps its nerve in the field, on the road or at public appearances and does not rush to seek salvation in flight. However, this property can also be a disadvantage. If you give your Berber conflicting signals or if you give him too much force, he may block. This can become a problem for many riders if they are used to dealing with other breeds. You cannot face the unfamiliar challenge.
Berbers are actually an underestimated breed of horse. They have enormous capabilities and retain what they have learned. You can put a Berber in the paddock for a few weeks. When you saddle it up again afterwards, you can pick up where you left off. And all that without any fuss.
It is not without reason that Berbers are considered the best riding horses in the world. With its supple movements, good understep and high surefootedness, the horse is suitable for every discipline. Berbers are all-rounders and not just specialized in one discipline. The seating comfort is particularly noteworthy. Due to the compact back, it does not swing. As a result, riders sit comfortably and almost free of vibrations. This is a great advantage for long rides or back problems.
History of the Berbers
The history of the Berbers begins around 400 BC. BC Berber horses are among the oldest horse breeds in the world. The warlike Numidian peoples bred horses that were agile, swift, and agile. The agile cavalry horses were ridden without saddle and bridle. After the peoples allied with the Romans, the noble blood of horses flowed into all breeds around the Mediterranean.
Their original home is in North Africa. The Berber horses were bred in countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, and today their breeding area covers almost the entire width of North Africa. Barbary horses quickly gained a reputation as excellent war horses. The horses became coveted refiners of horse breeding in the early, high and late Middle Ages in Europe. Unlike other horses, Barbary horses have always been kept close to the family. It was customary for the Berber people to stand in the middle of the tents with their horses. So the contact between horse and human became very close.
Many European and American breeds contain Berber blood. Horses came to the new world with Christopher Columbus and became the ancestors of the Quarter Horse, Mustang, Spanish Barb and Pasos. And the old breeds of Andalusian, Lipizzaner, Neapolitan and all baroque horse breeds are descended from Berber blood. In addition to the Spanish horse, Berbers quickly became a symbol of high horsemanship. Hardly any other horse has so much light-footedness and willingness to work.
The Barbary stallion Godolphin Barb is one of the progenitors of the English Thoroughbred. He is also incorrectly referred to as the Godolphin Arabian. The stallion was presented with other horses to the French king Louis XV. given. Before the eyes of the French court, the horse found no mercy and so the stallion came into the possession of Edward Coke, who was looking for a stallion for his stud farm.
Riding instructors like Antoine de Pluvinel, who taught the French King Louis XIII. taught horseback riding, and Francois Robichon de la Guèrinière raved about the Berber horses. Above all, the affection and the excellent rideability were praised by the riding masters.
In 1830, when the French occupied North Africa, numerous Berber horses were confiscated. They were crossed with thoroughbred Arabians. The Arab-Berber breed was born. Some of the best stud farms breeding Arab-Berbers are located in Maghreb.
Today, the Berber is mainly used in horse tourism because it is good-natured, robust, resilient and frugal. Even today, the Berber is valued in many countries for its outstanding qualities. Early on, Berbers were crossed with Arabs in order to obtain nobler horses, which had the reliable character of the Berber.
Today the population of pure Berbers is very small. According to estimates, there should be just 2,500 horses left. In 1988 the association “World Organization of the Berber Horse” was founded. The organization aims to preserve the Berber and to strengthen the breed again. Above all, the countries of origin Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya are organized in it and are supported by France. The “Association of Friends and Breeders of the Berber Horse e.V.” was founded in Germany in 1992. He is a member of the world organization. In 2005 there were 129 breeding animals in Germany. The total number of Berber horses has been estimated at 500.
Interesting and worth knowing
A lot could be said about the ancient breed of Berber horses. And yet the records are scarce and few books tell of the Berbers. However, Berber horses can be seen in some films. Berbers also play a role, especially in films that tell stories from the Orient. However, they are often pushed aside by the showy Arabs.
Berbers in Film and TV
Especially the famous Berber stallions are mentioned in stories and tales. The American author Marguerite Henry tells the life story of the stallion Godolphin Barb in the book “King of the Wind”. The book was filmed under the same name in 1990. But in the film it is an Arab who takes on the role of the Berber stallion.
The film “The Horses Spell – Morocco” shows the Berber horse in all its beauty. He tells of an incomparable breed of horse that is second to none.
Advice on keeping Berbers
Every horse is unique, no matter what breed it belongs to. And no matter how long or short the pedigree is, every horse has similar needs, such as those for food, exercise, and social contact. These must be satisfied in order to enable a happy horse life. However, depending on what the breed of horse was originally bred for, there are many different characteristics: some are bred to be sport horses and need more exercise than others, and some are more leisurely workhorses.
Care and nutrition
It doesn’t matter whether you own a large draft horse or a small pony: every horse needs a certain amount of care to stay healthy. The hooves in particular require your special attention. You can read about what you should consider here in the tips for proper horse care.
You also strengthen your bond with your four-legged friend with regular grooming. Finally, nibbling each other’s fur is a common social interaction between horses.
